Filed under: Hydrogen, Legislation and Policy
Fuel cell company spends $125,000 on lobbying
When you think lobbying group, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not green energy. But, with Congress back in session and a new green energy bill floating around, there are millions of dollars for companies up for grabs. This means growth in the wind and biofuel lobby and even the fuel cell lobby. Yeah, fuel cells.Plug Power Inc. spent $125,000 in the first half of 2007 trying to convince Senate to extend fuel cell tax credit. Plug Power also wants to make sure Senators have all the information about the wonderful benefits of those fuel cell programs at the defense and energy department.
Lobbyists have become an issue in the '08 elections. Many people feel they have too much influence on policy. Below the fold is a video I recorded from the Newshour about the growth in lobbying groups. The growth over the last few years is really amazing.
[Source: Forbes]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TX CHL Instructor 9:30PM (9/06/2007)
"Fuel cell company spends $125,000 on lobbying"
Yup. Good ol' hydrogen, the perfect fuel for people who can freely spend other people's money. Without massive subsidy at the taxpayer's expense, fuel cells are a non-starter.
Using hydrogen to power automobiles is insanely stupid.
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Chris M 1:27AM (9/07/2007)
They have to keep the government research funds flowing, if the feds stop paying all the bills the auto companies would promptly drop it like the bad idea it is.
No doubt they think the cost isn't much, after all, that's the price of just one automotive fuel cell.
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Tim 10:33AM (9/07/2007)
I'm not quite sure if politicians are greedy, gullible or just plain stupid. I guess it doesn't really matter when it's not "their" money. I do know that when politics becomes a job instead of a service to the public, they are more willing to pander to donors. Maybe they should donate their time instead of getting paid? Oh, we tried that way back when and they just voted themselves access to the public coffers.
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Simon Tetlow 1:59PM (10/12/2007)
$125,000 would barely buy lunch for your average lobbyist on 'the hill.'
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Ron 8:34PM (10/05/2008)
Lets see, would it be possible, to take a rolled sheet of solar panel material, hook it to a 12 vold battery, hook the 12 volt up to two terminals that are summerged into a jar of water, and produce hydrogen gas out the top into a tube, through a spark arrestor, and burn a flame, that could cook a steak on the grill. with the only cost being the price of the materials, and no cost from the methane gas producer? Think about that, for a while, for those who don't believe, in the hydrogen revolution.:) Lobbying, may have brought havack, to the US, however, lobbying may be able to save the US, I do believe its time to invest, into the separation of hydrogen and oxygen, its a winner, hands down. And for those nay sayers, you may want to switch, into the new and upcoming industry. Its time to think about survival of the fittest.:)-
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Chris M 9:32PM (10/05/2008)
Well, the material costs add up, especially the photovoltaics and the H2 storage tanks. Figure a thousand if you only wanted steak once a week, or 7 grand if you wanted steak every day.
Or, you could spend less than $150 for the materials needed to make a focusing solar oven, good for roasting steaks and all the other baked goods you might want.
Sorry, but the H2 approach inevitably turns out to be the more expensive less efficient option.